qa22

Question

When i look straight at anything, i have double vision. When i turn my head a little (~15degrees) to the left i can see everything singularly. But i have to have my head turned to the left of it. I know when i was a child my parents took me to many optometrists because it appeared at though i had a lazy eye, but my sight is fine, it just doesnt line up because of the muscle in the left eye.

Have you heard of this before? Are there any new surgeries that can help this problem? I dont know what it is or what i can do about it. I had 2 operations when i was 9 and 13, I dont remeber much, but i know they removed some of the muscle.

(Teraza Szakaly)

Answer:

Dear Tereza,

It is likely that you have Duane's syndrome, that occurs especially in the left eye in females. The outer horizontal eye muscle does not work and instead contracts when the affected eye moves towards the nose. At that moment both horizontal eye muscles contract and the eye is pulled backward. There are several surgical options to treat this condition. You had two operations, but I advise you to consult an ophthalmologist with lots of experience in treating squint for a third operation, because head turn is a sure reason in Duane's syndrome to have something done.

(Herb Simonsz, MD, PhD)

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